DEA Taking Back Unwanted Prescription Drugs on Oct. 28

Updated: Oct 24th 2017

TUESDAY, Oct. 24, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- The public is being given its 14th opportunity to safely dispose of pills and patches at collection points operated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) and its partners.

On Oct. 28, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the public will have a chance to dispose of expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs. The DEA can accept only pills and patches, not liquids, needles, or sharps. The service is provided free of charge and is anonymous.

Last April, 450 tons of prescription drugs were collected at almost 5,500 sites operated by the DEA and more than 4,200 state and local law enforcement partners. In all 13 previous collection events, the DEA and its partners took in more than 4,050 tons of pills.

The initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue because unused and expired medicines that are not disposed of are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse, according to the DEA. In addition, Americans are now advised that disposing of unused medicines by flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash poses potential safety and health hazards.